rig-ney



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' J. T. RIGNEY.

RAILROAD SWITCH.

Patented Sept. 10, 1889.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

BY a0.

m i 2 m I I m1 9 I: i 8 S IL I I I! N NW. 9 M i I I w 6 v m T g 5 m O A. H firm m m O 6 N (N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-,Sheet 2.

J. RIGNEY. RAILROAD SWITCH.

No. 410,992. Patented Sept. 10, 1889.

INVENTOR: 7

BY CAM lam ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. RIGNEY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH TO \VILLIAM D. JENKINS, OF SAME PLACE.

RAI LROAD-SWITCH.

" SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,992, dated September 10, 1889.

Application filed March 16, 1889. Eterial No. 803,596. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J QHN T. RIGNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have i11- vented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention relates to improvements in railroad-switches, the object being to provide a switch for railroads which will prevent the derailment of a train by providing for a constant maintenance of the main track no matter how the switch may be set.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top view of a part of the main track, siding, and switch, the latter being set for connection with the main track running in either direction and with the siding only so as to allow a train to come out of the siding. Fig. 2 is a side view of the pivot end of switch, the cross-tie being in section to show the pivot. Fig. 3 is an inverted or bottom view of the pivot end of switch. Fig. 4 is a topview of the pivot-bearing supported on a cross-tie. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the connection of the safety-rails with the siding-rails. Fig. 6- is a cross-section of the tracks, on the line 6 6.

The letter A designates the rails of the main track. The middle rail A of the switch and the pivoted point A also on the switch, form a continuation of one of the main-track rails A. The rails B B constitute the siding. It will be observed one of the main-track rails A remains unbroken and is not affected by the introduction of the switch into the other main-track rail. One siding-rail B terminates with a square end 0, to make connecnection with the rails A and H of the switch.-

intended to continue a short distance par allel with the rail F, and both of these rails F F at their other ends (see Fig. 5) are to said pivot 1".

connect with the siding-rails B B, the end of the outer third rail F where it connects be ing placed higher than the siding-rail (see Fig. 6) to permit the car-wheels to pass from said high end over the top of the siding-rail B and then drop down thereon.

The two rails F F may be dispensed with, but they form safety-rails and would serve to prevent a car from leaving the track if said car should accidently take the outer rail II of the switch when the latter was moved or set to make connection with the sidingrail B. Of course a car could move in the direction just stated only by some one first forcing the pivoted point A away from the outer rail H.

The switch comprises the three railsnamely, the middle rail A, which is nor mally set in connection with the main rail A, the outside railH, normally set in connection with the siding-rail B, and the inside rail I, which becomes connected with the main rail A whenever the middle switch-rail A is set for connection with the siding-rail B. All three of the switch -rails are permanently fixed toa base-plate J, and are also secured together by suitable bolts 70 passing horizontally through the three rails and also through spacing-blocks 1 between the rails.

As already stated, the middle switch-rail A has a point A pivoted at m, and by aspring n is kept in contact normally with the outside switch-rail H, and forms a continuation of one of the main rails A. The inside rail I also has a point I, pivoted at 0, and by the spring at is kept in contact normally with a guard-rail P, secured to the base-plate J. The rail I, point I, and guard P may be one piece grooved.

The outside switch-rail H has a slight bend at q, near the place where the free end of the pivoted point A comes in contact.

The outside switch-rail H is pivoted at one end at 0. As this rail and the other two switch-rails A and I are secured together by the base plate J and by bolts, all of said switch-rails are pivoted or will turn on the One construction for pivoting is shown in Figs. 2, 3,and 4.. The pivot comprises a disk or boss 5 on the under side of the rail and a pin tprojecting downward from the center of said boss. A plate or bearing u is on a cross-tie, and has a socket t to receive the pivot-boss s, and a central hole to in the tie receives the pivot-pin. Thus a secure and firm pivot is provided. Other pivots may be used.

\Vhen the switch is set for the main track, as shown in Fig. 1, the middle rail A and pivoted point A form part of the main track, and should a train or car under these conditions run out of the siding B B, the wheels on the switch side would pass along the outside rail H, and the wheel-flanges would pass between the said rail and pivoted point A forcing said point over and causing the spring a to yield.

lVhen the switch is set for the siding, should a train run down the main track the car-wheels on the switch side will pass over the rails I and I, the wheel-flanges between I and P, to the main rail A.

The rail-joints of the permanent track are broken, one joint only on the same cross-tie, thereby preventing churning, which is often caused when the joints are opposite on the same cross-tie.

In applying this invention for three or more tracks the same switch in principle will be placed in both sides of the track, both to turn, or a switch in one side to turn and a differing one in the other side to be stationary.

A chair m for the end of the main-track rail A is integral with the pivot-plate it. This combined chair and switch pivot-plate insures a true alignment of the main and switch rails.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination, with the main-track rails A, one of which is broken and the other unbroken, and the siding-rails B B, of a switch placed in the broken rail of the main track, said switch comprising three rails, to wit: the middle rail A, havinga pivoted point, and the inside rail I, also having a pivoted point, both of these rails to connect alternately with the main-track rail A, and the outside rail II, to connect normally with the siding-rail B, all three of the switch-rails being secured together, and all turning 011 a pivot at the end of the said outside rail, for the purpose set forth.

2. The switch herein described, comprising a base-plate J, an outside rail H, pivoted at one end, a guard-rail P, a middle rail A, and an inside rail 1, all of these said rails being secured to the base-plate, a pivoted point A", continuing from the middle rail and by a spring kept normally in con tact with the said outside rail, and a pivoted point I, continuing from the inside rail and bya spring kept normally in contact with the said guard-rail.

3. The combination, in a switch, of a rail I-I, pivoted at ene end and having a bend q, a shorter rail A, secured permanently alongside of the bent rail and movable by the same pivot, a pivoted point A continuing from the said shorter rail and having its free end normally in contact with the said bent rail, the main-track rail A, and a siding-rail B.

4. The combination, in a switch, of the maintrack rails A, siding-rails B B, safety sidingrails F F, to run parallel to and connect with the siding-rails, and a switch comprising three rails, to wit: the middle rail A, having a pivoted point, and the inside rail I, also having a pivoted point, both of these rails to connect alternately with the main-track rail A, and the outside rail II, to connect normally with the siding-rail B, all three of the switch-rails being secured together and all turning on a pivot at the end of the said outside rail, for the purpose set forth.

5. In a switch, the combination of the plate embracing in one piece the chair at and a bearing having a socket 1, the main-track rail, and the switch-rail having on its under side a pivot-boss s.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN T. RIGNEY. Witnesses:

JNo. '1. MADDOX, JoHN E. MORRIS. 

